HSK 1–3 _ What Happens On The First Day Of Chinese New Year_ _ 大年初一发生什么？ l Chinese Podcast

Hello everyone Welcome to Learn Chinese On The Go Today we're talking about what happens on the first day of the Lunar New Year Xiao Mei happy Lunar New Year Today is the first day of the new year That's right The first day of the Lunar New Year feels especially special Yes What did you do this morning I got up very early this morning and put on new clothes Wearing new clothes is a tradition What color did you wear I wore a red sweater very festive Red is indeed beautiful full of New Year's spirit Then I had the leftover New Year's Eve dinner my mom had prepared Ha ha having leftovers from the New Year's Eve dinner is also a kind of blessing That's right there are also steaming hot dumplings and tangyuan Dumplings and tangyuan—truly indispensable delights Next our whole family gathered to wish our grandparents a happy Lunar New Year Why is paying New Year visits so important and what auspicious phrases do we say We all wished each other a happy new year and prosperity Congratulations on your wealth Did you get any red envelopes Of course I did I received several big red envelopes Wow I'm so jealous You must be thrilled to get red envelopes right I'm truly delighted—this is the elder's blessing and heartfelt gesture Yes red envelopes symbolize good fortune and美好的 wishes After receiving a red envelope we also exchange greetings with one another Exchanging greetings feels so warm and comforting There are also some traditions observed on the first day of the lunar new year—did you know about them For instance you're not supposed to sweep the floor or wash your hair right Yes and you can't throw out the trash either—afraid it might sweep away your luck These interesting customs are all about bringing good fortune It feels like the first day of Lunar New Year is a lively joyful gathering day I also think being together as a family is the most important thing Many relatives and friends come over to visit and chat What interesting topics do people talk about while chatting They discuss work daily life and share updates about their recent experiences That feeling is truly wonderful—so warm and comforting The children run around and have a great time Yes their laughter makes the home feel even more lively On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year there are plenty of firecrackers The sound of firecrackers adds a strong festive atmosphere Sometimes we even watch replays of the Spring Festival Gala together I feel that the first day of the Lunar New Year is filled with hope and joy Indeed it marks the beginning of a new year brimming with vitality Everyone exchanges the most heartfelt wishes That sense of ritual makes us feel the true spirit of the Lunar New Year I really love special days like the first day of the Lunar New Year Me too I'm looking forward to the next few days being just as joyful Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful New Year By the way I also have a question for you Go ahead what would you like to ask Hmm what do you eat on Lunar New Year's Day We have tangyuan for breakfast at home Tangyuan symbolizing togetherness and reunion Yes I hope everyone in the family is happy and prosperous What about lunch and dinner are there any particular traditions Having dumplings for lunch and leftover New Year's Eve dinner for supper The leftovers still carry the festive spirit Yes symbolizing abundance every year don't they How fascinating—every food has its meaning What do you eat on New Year's Day in your family We have noodles in the morning symbolizing longevity The noodles are good too—they're all auspicious signs By the way besides eating is there anything special We'll visit our elders to pay our New Year respects and offer blessings Happy New Year Kids always love getting red envelopes don't they Haha yes the red envelopes are what they look forward to Have you ever come across an envelope that was empty Oh that would be hilarious I actually experienced something like that when I was a kid Really That must have been quite a complicated feeling huh Yeah from anticipation to a little disappointment But now it's more about the thought behind it Yes the sentiment matters most and so does the blessing What kind of greetings do you usually say during the New Year's visits I'll say "Happy New Year " "good health " and so on Also "all your wishes come true " "wishing you prosperity " These expressions really capture the festive spirit of the season Do you think learning these blessings is difficult At first it might feel a bit difficult but listening more and speaking more will help Yes just listening isn't enough—speaking out loud is equally important For example I usually practice a few times in advance That's a great approach Have you got any tips for learning a language I pick up natural expressions by watching TV dramas TV dramas—those are really interesting You can also use some language-learning apps like Duolingo Oh I've heard of it—pretty convenient Yes consistency is key when learning a language Absolutely you can't fish for three days and then dry your nets for two Have you ever thought about learning vocabulary according to the seasons Seasons For example what words are associated with summer Like ice cream swimming beaches and so on That's a great idea—it's very practical and grounded in everyday life It helps connect vocabulary to real-life situations I've struggled with remembering words before too Did you discover any effective methods later I found that practicing and speaking frequently yields the best results By the way are there any special taboos on the first day of the Lunar New Year Hmm apparently not sweeping could sweep away your luck and fortune Oh is that how it is Yes that's why you shouldn't sweep on the first day of the lunar new year You can't throw out garbage then Right garbage has to wait until after the second day So particular—there are so many rules Also you can't wash your hair on the first day or you'll wash away your fortune Wait so you have to wash it the night before That's right everything's cleaned thoroughly the night before Sounds interesting—never noticed that before Well cutting hair might also affect your health With so many taboos do people still follow them today Most young people probably don't care much anymore But older generations still take these traditions seriously don't they Of course they'll remind us I find these taboos quite interesting Yes they're all about wishing for a lucky start to the new year By the way do you wear new clothes on the first day of the Lunar New Year It's essential—it symbolizes a fresh start Red is the preferred choice right Exactly red represents celebration and good fortune I always feel especially cheerful wearing new clothes Also paying New Year visits is the main event on the first day of the lunar new year Yes dropping by relatives' homes to exchange good wishes Especially when greeting elders during the New Year they’ll be very happy Can children receive lucky money then Of course that’s what kids look forward to the most I always loved getting red envelopes as a kid Haha who didn’t It’s part of childhood memories Now it's our turn to give red envelopes to the younger generation Yes the roles have shifted and the feeling is different now What do you have for breakfast on the first day of the Lunar New Year It's common to eat tangyuan symbolizing unity and togetherness Tangyuan I like them— sweet and chewy In some places they eat jiaozi too which also signifies good fortune Southern and northern customs really are quite different That's true every region has its own unique traditions Besides paying New Year's visits what other activities do people enjoy on the first day of the Lunar New Year Many people go to temples to burn incense and pray for blessings Hmm wishing for a peaceful and safe new year I'll also watch the Spring Festival Gala replay with my family Haha the Spring Festival Gala is a must-have for Lunar New Year celebrations Some regions also feature dragon and lion dance performances Those are really lively and very captivating Yes they definitely add a lot of festive atmosphere Oh should you say lucky phrases on Lunar New Year' s Day Absolutely "Wishing you prosperity" is a must Happy New Year and may you stay healthy and well Exactly speaking kindly brings good luck I truly feel that the Lunar New Year is full of hope Yes it's a day for family reunions and heartfelt wishes Indeed those wonderful wishes truly bring joy Exactly gifts of red envelopes are a special kind of blessing Haha the red envelope contains good wishes and prosperity When I was a child the thing I looked forward to most was getting a big red envelope Me too—I always secretly counted the money inside What do you usually buy with your red packet money I save it first then buy small toys I like Wow you're so organized—I just spend mine right away Ha ha kids just need to be happy above all Exactly the New Year is all about joy and cheer Besides red envelopes what other delicious foods are there on the first day of the Lunar New Year Dumplings symbolize wealth and prosperity making them essential Well we also eat tangyuan which represent family unity Tangyuan are a wonderful choice too—sweet and full of warmth Every year my mom makes lots of dumplings with different fillings That's truly happiness—nothing beats the taste of home Yes it's exactly that comforting familiar home flavor that makes you miss it Oh by the way have you ever noticed any taboos Taboos You mean not sweeping on the first day of the Lunar New Year Exactly—supposedly it'll sweep away your luck and prosperity Oh so that's how it is—I had no idea all along Also you're not supposed to wash your hair in case you wash away your luck Haha so was the first day of the lunar new year supposed to be dirty all day back then So everyone washes up early on New Year's Eve I see these customs are truly fascinating Exactly they're all about bringing good luck Do you think these traditions are still popular among young people I think they're still quite popular—everyone really values them Well after all it's Chinese New Year the most important festival Yes it's also part of our cultural heritage So do you have any special New Year memories I remember being both scared and excited as a child setting off firecrackers Ha ha the sound of firecrackers is truly the soundtrack of Chinese New Year It's a pity they're no longer allowed in cities now Yes but it's for safety and environmental protection so it's for the best Yes safety first—that’s understandable Still that lively atmosphere remained Definitely being together as a family is the greatest happiness How do you think we should pass on these traditions Tell children stories frequently so they understand their significance Yes and also involve them personally to experience the joy firsthand Absolutely experiencing the charm of traditional culture is important For example take them to watch a dragon and lion dance performance Yes that would make these cultural elements more vid and memorable I think the Lunar New Year is truly full of rituals That's right every step carries beautiful wishes It fills people with anticipation and hope for the year ahead Hmm every year feels like a brand-new beginning That's right I hope we both have a smooth and successful new year Thanks to your good wishes I hope you get everything you wish for Thank you When it comes to making wishes come true isn't it customary to eat something special on the first day of the Lunar New Year Absolutely for example dumplings symbolize attracting wealth and prosperity Oh dumplings—I eat so many every year and what else is there Rice cakes are also very famous symbolizing continuous improvement and a life that gets better year by year I love eating sweet rice cakes—they're soft and chewy wonderfully sweet My family makes stir-fried rice cakes with bits of meat and vegetables giving them a rich flavorful taste These foods all feel like they carry wonderful blessings and hopes That's right each dish has its own special meaning—it's quite fascinating Besides eating do people also visit relatives and friends to pay New Year's calls on the first day of the lunar new year Of course when younger relatives visit elders to offer blessings they receive red envelopes As a child the thing I looked forward to most was the New Year visits when I could get red envelopes Haha me too but now I mostly send blessings to others With the development of the times have the ways of paying New Year's calls changed Some people send WeChat red packets or make video calls to greet each other It's convenient but there's still something missing compared to the warmth of face-to-face interaction I feel the same going in person lets you truly sense the spirit of the festival season So how should we strike a balance between traditional and modern New Year greeting customs Close relatives can visit in person while distant ones can stay in touch through technology Yes the most important thing is that the thought is there—staying connected matters By the way do you know the tradition of wearing new clothes on the first day of the Lunar New Year Of course I know when I was little my mom would always buy me new clothes It symbolizes bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new leaving behind what's bad and embracing a fresh start Dressing in new clothes makes you feel completely refreshed with an especially good mood Exactly it's like giving yourself a sense of ritual filled with hope Do you feel that nowadays young people are placing greater importance on these customs I think so—people are beginning to rediscover the beauty of traditional culture For example with the revival of Hanfu many young people now enjoy wearing Hanfu during the Lunar New Year This is a positive development breathing new life into traditional culture If someone wants to learn more what are some effective ways to do so You could watch some documentaries or follow public accounts focused on culture I've heard that apps like Duolingo can also teach you a bit about culture Yes or platforms like ChinesePod that combine language learning with cultural understanding Just listening isn't enough—I think the best way is to experience it firsthand That's right try making dumplings yourself or join in a dragon dance performance Not only will you remember them but you'll also truly enjoy the process Learning these traditions might feel a bit cumbersome at first But if you stick with it you'll come to appreciate its charm and value I used to feel the same way—thought Lunar New Year was just about eating and drinking Only later did I gradually come to understand the culture and emotions hidden behind it I specifically looked up the origin of the character "year " and it's particularly fascinating Oh what kind of story is that Tell me quickly Legend has it there was a monster named Nian that feared the color red and loud noises No wonder we hang Spring Festival couplets and set off firecrackers during the Lunar New Year—now I understand why Exactly learning these traditions makes celebrating the festival even more enjoyable don't you think Indeed every tradition has its own unique history and story So what other fun customs from the first day of the Lunar New Year do you think are worth sharing Hmm I think it's best to watch the Spring Festival Gala together as a family eating and chatting along Being together is the greatest gift filled with love and laughter That's right the first day of the Lunar New Year is all about enjoying togetherness and happiness By the way I'd like to ask you one more question What do you think is the most important thing about the first day of the Lunar New Year Hmm I think it's about gathering with family Yes reunion is an eternal theme And also paying respects to elders during the New Year Isn't it customary to say auspicious greetings during the New Year Yes things like "Happy New Year" and "Wishing you good health " That sounds really fun I love it Elders also give us red envelopes Oh lucky money— I know about that too That was the moment children looked forward to the most Ha ha who doesn't love red envelopes They symbolize blessings from elders I think it's a passing on of love That's beautifully said exactly that feeling Are there any other special customs Hmm you shouldn't sweep on the first day of the Lunar New Year Why shouldn't you sweep on the first day of the Lunar New Year It's said that doing so will sweep away your good fortune Wow that's a fascinating belief That's why everyone cleans thoroughly in advance No wonder households are so busy before the New Year Yes to welcome the new year I've also heard you shouldn't wash your hair right Yes it's said that doing this would wash away prosperity All these taboos are related to wealth People hope for good fortune in the new year Yes hoping everything goes smoothly Also I mustn't say anything unlucky I'll definitely keep that in mind We should exchange blessings and well-wishes It just feels right to speak only positive words during the Lunar New Year Absolutely full of positivity and positive energy This new year will better as well It's truly a hopeful beginning I think these traditions are deeply meaningful It adds a sense of ritual to our lives Yes it also strengthens family bonds I really love this warm atmosphere I can't wait for the first day of the Lunar New Year Yes I'm looking forward to next year's Spring Festival I've learned a lot about the Lunar New Year We talked about many interesting things today Yes time really flies Today's sharing was truly meaningful Wishing everyone a happy and joyful New Year So what will you do on the first day of the Lunar New Year Share your stories in the comments below In our next episode we’ll be talking about the Lantern Festival Stay tuned—don’t miss it Thank you for listening we'll see you next time Today's discussion was truly interesting and I hope everyone learned something as well Yes everyone is welcome to share their experiences and questions in the comments section